Traffic lighting system



June26, 1945. H, DEM'S I 2,379,283

TRAFFIC LIGHTING SYSTEM Filed Nov. 1, 1943 TEE/.41-

IN V EN TOR.

155/257 Beads ATTORNEY Patented June 26, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 2,379,283 i I I TRAFFIC LIGHTING-SYSTEM Henry Denis, Brooklyn,.N. Y. Application November 1, 1943, SerialNo. 508,486- 1 I v 4 Claims.01. 177-327) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in atraffic lighting system.

More specifically, the invention proposes the construction of a trafficlighting system characterized by a casing having a plurality of side thered to be lit, then the red and green, and

finally the green.

Still further it is proposed to arrange'shields in such a manner thatthey will each include a stationary shield and a movable inner shieldarranged to move concentrically with relation to the outer shield and tohave these shields normally located directly above the signals in amanner to cover the top areas thereof.

sun further it is proposed that the inner shield be manually moved intoa position beneath the signal and upper shield and to characterize eachof the shields by flexible central sections and rigid hingedly mountedside sections normally urged towards each other in a manner so that whenthe inner shield is turned to its lowered position the shields willswing towards each other and partially cover the signal lights.

It is proposed that the shields be in their normal superimposed positionduring normal times,

and that the inner shield be moved to its lowered position duringblackout periods for partially covering the signals, reducing thequantity of light emanating therefrom while at the same time permittingthe signals to be viewed by motorists approaching the signal.

For further comprehension of the invention,

' and of the objects and advantages thereof, refence will be had to thefollowing description and accompanying drawing, and to the appendedclaims in which the various novel features of the invention are moreparticularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a trafllc light constructed inaccordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similarto Fig. 1 butillustrating a shifted position ofthe parts.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 3--3of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially onthe.1ine 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view, per se, of the inner shield and its controlling ringgear.

The traific lighting system, according to this invention, includes acasing l0 mounted upon the top end of a hollow vertical standard 1! andhaving a plurality of side panels 12 each of which has superimposed redsignals l3 and green signals II. The interior of the casing 10 is"provided with a horizontal 'wall M at a pointbetween the signals l3 andI4.

Light bulbs l5 are mounted on the-top and bottom'faces of the horizontalwall M andare connected with a source of power and controlling mechanism(not'shown on thedrawing) for permitting the signals l3 and M tooperatealternately and simultaneously. f

One of these panels 12' is hinged to the casing at [2 and is providedwith a suitable locking handle l2", so that this panelmay act asa doorto permit changing the bulb l5 and closing the interior of the saidcasing. The desired arrangement is to have both the upper and lower Isections lit only when the direction of traffic is '20 about to change.

When the upper section alone is lit'and oil, the

north and south traffic have the green light and is movin then the eastand west traflic has'the red light'and is stopped. Shortly before thelight in the upper section goes out, the lower section lights up. Thisbrings out a red and green light inall directions, warning the north andsouth motorist that they will soon have a total red light against themand prepare to stop at the nearest intersection. At the same time itlets the east and westbound motorist know that they will soon have agreen light, and may prepare to start. Then the light in the uppersection goes out and the east and West trafiic will move on the greenlight and the north and south traffic is stopped. After a set time, theupper section will light before the light in the lower section a goesout to give notice to the motorist to get ready to start or stop. Thischangin of the lighting from the upper to the lower section and thelower to the upper section is repeated in accordance to the time settingor speed of the drum switch.

This arrangement may function as a simple container or a compound shield16 may be provided for each of the signals 13 and I4 upon the fourpanels of the casing 10. Each compound signal comprises a substantiallysemi-circular outer stationary shield I! mounted directly on the panelsl2 of the casing H3 directly above each of the signals.

Each of the outer shields I'l consists of a flexible central section Hand rigid hingedly mounted side sections 11 These side sections l'l arehingedly supported upon hinged struc:

tures I8 having springs l9which tend to urge' the sections l'l slightlyinwards, as shown in 20 each of which consists of a flexible centralsection 20 and rigid hingedly mounted outer side sections 20. The rigidouter side sections 20 are pivotally attached by means of hingedstructures 2| to a ring 22 mounted on the inner face of the panels I 2of the casing III. The hinged structures 2I are provided with springs 23which normally tend to urge the rigid side sections 20 into slightlyinwardly directed positions, as shown in Fig. 2. The ring 22 isrotatively supported upon a metallic frame 24 which supports the glassforming the signals I3 and I4. The metallic frame 24 is supported byseveral brackets 25 upon the inner face of the panels of the casing III.These brackets 25 are extended around the rings -22- and in no wayinterfere with a free rotation thereof. Extending from the frame 24there is a substantially semi-circular stationary cam 26. This cam 26 isarranged over the top of the signals I3 and I4 and is designed to beengaged by the inner shields20 for the purpose of urging the rigid Sidesections 20 of the inner shields 20 into an extended position againstthe action of the spring 23. This will extend the inner shields 20, asshown in Fig. l, and in turn the inner shields 20 will urge the sidesections N of the outer shields II into their extended positions againstthe action of their respective springs I9.

The operation of the device is as follows:

Normally, the shields I1 and 20, which comprise the compound shields I6,are one within the other permitting the signals I3 and I4 to be clearlyviewed by approaching motorists. However, during blackout periods it ispossible to manually turn the inner shields 20 as permitted by therotatively supported rings 22 relative to the outershield I! to locatethe inner shields 20 adjacent the bottom of the signals I3 and I4 clearof the cams 26. In this position the springs I9 and 23 of the hingedstructures I8 and 2I which support the side sections of the shields willurge the shields into a position in which they partially cover thesignals I3 and I4 to limit the amount of light which will passfrom thesignals I3 and I4. It will be noted that these shields do not completelycover the signals I3 and I4, as shown in Fig. 2, permitting some of thelight to pass therefrom to be viewed by passing motorists.

At the end of the blackout period the inner shields 20 may be turnedback to their normal position within the shields I1 and on the cams 26.The cams 26 will then function to urge the side sections of the shieldsinto their completely extended position shown in Fig. 1.

While I have illustrated and described the pre ferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to allchanges and modifications coming within the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A trail-1c lighting system, comprising a casing having a signal, anda compound shield for said signal, comprising a substantiallysemi-circular outer stationary shield having a flexible central sectionand rigid hingedly mounted side seccentral section and rigid hingedlymounted side sections, a substantially semi-circular stationary tions, asubstantially semi-circular inner shield within said outer shield andhaving a flexible cam within said inner shield for holding said hingedlymounted side sections of said inner shield extended, said extendedsections of said inner shield engaging said sections of said outershield holding them extended, resilient means for urging said shieldsections collapsed, means for rotatively supporting said inner shield tobe manually turnable to a position free of said cam.

2. A trafllc lighting system, comprising a casing having a signal, and acompound shield for said signal, comprising a substantiallysemi-circular outer stationary shield having a flexible central sectionand rigid hingedly mounted side sections. a substantially semi-circularnner shield within said outer shield and having a flexible centralsection and rigid hingedly mounted side sections, a substantiallysemi-circular stationary cam within said inner shield for holding saidhingedly mounted side sections of said inner shield extended, saidextended sections of said inner shield engaging said sections of saidouter shield holding them extended, resilient means for urging saidshield sections collapsed, means for rotatively supporting said innershield to be manually turnable to a position free of said cam, each ofsaid rigid hingedly mounted side sections being pivotally supported uponhinges and said resilient means being arranged concentric with the pivotof said hinges.

3. A traflic lighting system, comprising a casing having a signal, and acompound shield for said signal, comprising a substantiallysemi-circular outer stationary shield having a flexible central sectionand rigid hingedly mounted side sections, a substantially semi-circularinner shield within said outer shield and having a flexible centralsection and rigid hingedly mounted side sections, a substantiallysemi-circular stationary cam within said inner shield for holding saidhingedly mounted side sections of said inner shield extended, saidextended sections of said inner shield engaging said sections of saidouter shield holding them extended, resilient means for urging saidshield sections collapsed, said inner shield being manually turnable toa position free of said cam, each of said inner shields being mountedupon a rotatively supported ring comprising the means for manuallyturnably mounting said inner shields.

4. A tralfic lighting system,comprising a casing having a signal, and acompound shield for said signal, comprising a substantiallysemi-circular outer stationary shield having a flexible central sectionand rigid hingedly mounted side sections, a substantially semi-circularinner shield within said outer shield and having a flexible centralsection and rigid hingedly mounted side sections, a substantiallysemi-circular stationary cam within said inner shield for holding saidhingedly mounted side sections of said inner shield extended, saidextended sections of said inner shield engaging said sections of saidouter shield holding them extended, resilient means for urging saidshield sections collapsed, said inner shield being manually turnable toa position free of said cam, each of said inner shields being mountedupon a ring, and means rotatively supporting said ring.-

HENRY DENIS.

